Defendant Testifies He Killed Abortion Doc

The man accused of murdering Kansas abortion provider George Tiller took the stand in his own defense today and promptly admitted that he fatally shot Tiller in an attempt to save unborn children. Scott Roeder, who has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and aggravated assault, was sworn in and made no effort to deny prosecutors' claims that he killed Tiller. He had previously confessed publicly.

Asked by his own attorney about his views on abortion, the 51-year-old Roeder said he believes it amounts to murder. "From conception forward it is murder," he said. "It is not a man's job to take life. It is our heavenly father's." Roeder replied "yes" or "no" to many of the questions, and his attempts to elaborate drew frequent objections from prosecutors, who say Roeder lacks the medical expertise to describe Tiller's practice and abortion procedures. (More Scott Roeder stories.)